Help me with DS under eye bags/puffiness!

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DS has always had incredibly puffy and dark under eye circles, even as a toddler. He has had a few blood tests over the years (one just a few months ago) and the only thing discovered is a slight folate deficiency.

He's in high school now and getting increasingly self conscious and upset about them, says they make him look ill and people comment about how he needs to go to bed earlier etc (he gets more than enough sleep).

Aside from concealer is there anything I can do to help him, are there any creams that make any difference at all? He puts a cold compress on his eyes in the morning to get the puffiness down, which it usually does throughout the day, but that's currently the only thing that helps.

Thanks!

Allergies and sinus issues can contribute to this, but if he's free of both then it's likely to just be the way he's made I'm afraid. If it's that severe he could consider cosmetic intervention once he's an adult.

Is he drinking enough water?

He does have allergies and sinus issues from time to time, but definitely not constant and it has happened at every house we've lived in, which suggests to me it's not environmental?

Water is a bit of a battle as he always prefers squash etc but don't think it is dehydration either - as I say it has been going on for years now. It's only recently he has started to get self conscious

It does usually improve a bit over the summer when he gets quite golden and spends more time outside.

The Ordinary caffeine solution is amazing for puffy eyes

www.lookfantastic.com/the-ordinary-caffeine-solution-5-egcg-30ml/11396686.html

I'm like your son - always had big puffy circles under my eyes. I was so self conscious about it through my teenage years and 20s. Nothing I tried really made a difference except holding ice under my eyes for a few minutes each day and trying to do my best with concealer. I've stopped caring now, but I know I often look ill and tired (they've got worse since having kids after 5 years of broken sleep) but I've just accepted it's the shape of my face.

I'm generally not a fan of any cosmetic surgery, but I'm my early 20s I remember looking in to trying to get them fixed. Maybe I will one day.

Could it be ‘allergy shiners’? Has he definitely identified and eliminated all allergies? Low folate is also often linked to allergies

I bet it's something breathing related. Something caused by a misaligned bite or ENT problem. I'd ask an orthodontist first. Does he snore?

I don't have any advice sorry apart from do not encourage him to use concealer. People will be able to tell and it will make it obvious that he feels there's a problem to be addressed that he's insecure about. Encourage him to wear his bags with, if not pride, not shame.

I knew a boy when I was a teenager who wore foundation all over his face to cover his spots. It made him seem ridiculous and he'd have been better to just have spots (which we could all still see anyway).

Don’t put make up on him!

Try a facial steamer and make sure he is hydrated. You can gently pinch the skin on his hand to check if he is dehydrated.

My DD is allergic to dairy. She had these until she stopped eating it.

Sounds like allergies to me especially with the sinus issues.

Maybe have a look at his diet.

Hmm I hadn't heard that folate was linked to allergies. Do you think the GP would refer him for an allergy test?

The only issues are he has HUGE tonsils, he doesn't get throat infections but they are really quite massive, alongside this he has tongue tie which wasn't picked up until he was 9, and we are currently considering surgery for this at the suggestion of the dentist. Maybe these things could be related.

I'd say you're right there, related to tonsils and tongue tie.